Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon...

[Rich Lambert]

...a run up the Mountian Loop Hwy!

After finishing insulating my new garage today, and feeling itchy and sweaty, I needed some quality Porsche time. I gave Skip Newsom a call and we decided to head up the Mountain Loop Highway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Loop_Highway The original plan was to run up to the Big 4 picnic area, get some pictures of the cars in front of where the old lodge burned down back in the '50's with Big 4 in the background, and head home. I had no idea we'd end up doing forest rally sections on goat trail roads in search of scenic vistas.

The first leg was out of Granite Falls up the Mt Loop. We pulled over after about 5 miles and Skip was wondering if we could make it up the gravel road to the old ski area on Mt Pilchuck. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pilchuck I said, "Sure, how bad could it be?"

Skip in his '72 Targa


It actually wasn't too bad. The were a lot of giant pot holes, big rocks, and washboards, but we made it. One plus was that it rained yesterday and there was virtually no dust. I didn't get any pictures of the road on the way up as it would have been a jiggly blur.

View from the top



Just to the right of Skip's car is Puget Sound way off in the background


On the other side of the parking lot you can see the snow isn't that far above us. The temps dropped about 20 degrees from the bottom to the top.


On the way back down...there's a cool waterfall right behind my car, but you can't really see it.


I felt my car starting to go sideways a lot on the dirt roads. Most of the time it surprised me as it was in spots you wouldn't expect to lose traction. I guess I was going faster than I thought...I was too focused on pot holes, rocks, and fallen trees to look at the speedo. Most of the vehicles we met were 4x4 trucks and SUV's with the typical NW outdoorsy types (1 male, 1 female, 1 dog). I would've liked to have heard the conversation as two 40 year old Porsches blew by them.

Skip ripping up the gravel road.


Next stop was this spot just off the highway.


Skip wanted to show me an old mine entrance.


Inside


Artsy woodsy pic


To be continued...

[aminter0]

Incredible pictures!! Looks like that would be a ton of fun!

[Evans, Marv]

Beautiful day and pics. Beautiful cars too. It's nice to just take off without any certain destination or timetable.

[Rich Lambert]

After the mine, the next stop was to be the Big 4 picnic area. Unfortunately, it was closed due a bridge being out on the hiking trail up to the ice caves. The trail is closed, but people were sneaking up there, so they closed the trailhead, which is in the picnic area. We decided to go further up the highway towards Monte Cristo. We saw a dirt road with a sign that said, "Scenic Lookout" and turned off there. The road was passable..most of the time we had to drive with one tire on the crown of the road to avoid bottoming out. A couple times we had to swerve into the bushes to miss series' of bottomless pot holes.

The first vista


You can see we're getting up there about even with the snow now.


The final vista...the snow is below us. This place was just beautiful. The moutainside across the valley was covered with waterfalls.


One more


The drive home was spirited...

Perspecive: On the way to meet Skip this afternoon, I drove across a bridge and ran over something that thumped off the bottom of my car. I panicked and thought maybe something fell off (I've been doing a lot of work on the car latey). I went back to see what it was...it was a piece of bark. I hit so much crap today that made truly awful sounds that I'm afraid to look at the bottom of the car. At least I know nothing's going to vibrate off. It was a good day.

[al lkosmal]

Rich,
Nice way to spend the day. I drove back from Chelan today, by way of Winthrop and then over the pass on Hiway 20. Sometimes you forget how fantastic the PNW is. Great pix.


PS: Once i reached home and opened up my mail, including the latest Esses.....nice article on your car...congrats.

Al

[RoninLB]

great thread

All I've ever known about Wa is salmon, bears, and the Cascades. I never did find the salmon due to low river water.

I explore everywhere and am glad to know about this hike. Best knowledge is local knowledge. I'm marking this one on my charts now. Next is to find campsites in area.
...thx


"Before the highway was built, primitive and very rough wagon roads connected the Monte Cristo Mine with the small towns of Darrington and Granite Falls. These roads roughly followed the current route of the Mountain Loop Highway along with some railroads. Construction of the road started in 1936 and finished in 1941"

[Rich Lambert]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

great thread

All I've ever known about Wa is salmon, bears, and the Cascades. I never did find the salmon due to low river water.

I explore everywhere and am glad to know about this hike. Best knowledge is local knowledge. I'm marking this one on my charts now. Next is to find campsites in area.
...thx


"Before the highway was built, primitive and very rough wagon roads connected the Monte Cristo Mine with the small towns of Darrington and Granite Falls. These roads roughly followed the current route of the Mountain Loop Highway along with some railroads. Construction of the road started in 1936 and finished in 1941"

Skip is the local hiking guru. By the way, my wife and I saw a bear run across our driveway about 3 weeks ago...big freakin bear.

[tangerine911S]

Great pictures. It sounds like a lot of fun.

[RoninLB]

just checked my notes

I slept about 50mi N in a different forest. Your area and north has bald eagles commuting at the right time of year.

and it seems like plenty of Nat'l Forest campgrounds on your loop.

great pics

[Zef]

That's what Saturday is made for...Thanks for sharing these superb pictures.

[Oh Haha]

Cool story and pics but the best thing about it for me is that you guys DROVE your 911s up there. It doesn't sound like you just putted 5MPH on the gravel roads, either.

[carlosR]

Fun trip, now I won't get so worried when I drive up or down the 1.5 miles to my house on dirt road. I usually park the Pcar in town. Anyway that is what I bought my car for, to have driving.

[TR]

Lucky bastards

[Brorag]

Yo Ron, let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brorag

[berettafan]

if, god forbid, my son doesn't want my 911 when i die i hope he sells it to someone who will use it like you guys do.

farking Porsche heroes is what people like you are. beating the snot out of an old 911 is such a sincere form of love....

[Brorag]

Just do it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crustychief]

Sounds like a great day! love the artsy woodsy shot.

[Rich Lambert]

Originally Posted by berettafan

if, god forbid, my son doesn't want my 911 when i die i hope he sells it to someone who will use it like you guys do.

farking Porsche heroes is what people like you are. beating the snot out of an old 911 is such a sincere form of love....

High praise indeed.

Note new "Custom User Title"

[berettafan]

oh man i'm blushing.

dunno what it is in the water up there but you PNW guys not only come up with the most beautiful cars you also use them in the correct fashion. soooo many guys out there with neat cars (of all brands) that just sit and polish and worry about value. they will talk your ear off about what a great car their such and such is but unless they turn it loose once in a while how on God's green earth do they REALLY know?

i have been inspired and will make it my mission to find a gravel road to get sideways on in the coming weeks.

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by Brorag

Yo Ron, let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brorag

I knew you'd like this thread.


It's only a day drive from our spot in Oregon's Willamette forest outside Lebanon.

Rand-McNally lists plenty of Nat'l Forest campgrounds there.

and just got building plans for garage from architect last week. Now I can price it.